Episcopal leader says church will resolve crisis on its own

New York  The head of the Episcopal Church says the denomination will resolve internal divisions over the consecration of its first openly gay bishop without direct intervention from overseas Anglican leaders.

Some U.S. conservatives who are opposed to ordaining gays are building a separate network of Episcopal churches and are appealing to Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams to provide direct oversight for them.

But Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold sent a letter last Friday to American bishops saying that, together, they will devise a plan providing alternative church leadership for dissenting congregations -- not Williams or others.

A draft will be considered at the U.S. bishops' next meeting in March.